Abstract

Background

Some psychotropic medications (e.g., benzodiazepines, sedative antidepressants, etc.)
may impair cognitive and psychomotor functions and, therefore, endanger traffic safety
(Ravera, Br J Clin Pharmacol, 72(3):505–513, 2011). They affect detection, registration,
and information processing, problem solving, and decision-making processes, and they
also affect emotional and social aspects. The objective of this research was to clarify
three closely related issues that are significant for traffic safety: the prevalence
of psychotropic drugs on driving, the most frequently used psychotropic drugs to treat
depression, anxiety, insomnia, or any tranquilizers (whether it is a medical prescription
or self-medication), and finally, provide a further understanding of the socio-demographic
and psycho-social characteristics of drivers related to the psychotropic drugs consumption
in Spain.

Methods

A sample of 1,200 Spanish drivers ranging from 18 to 64 years was used, 666 men and
534 women were asked to answer a questionnaire composed by a set of questions structured
in different sections. The only selection criteria were to be in possession of any
type of driving license for vehicles other than motorcycles and drive frequently.

Results

The results showed that 15% of the participants were consuming psychotropic drugs
to treat depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, insomnia, or tranquilizers; 13.5%
were using drugs to treat one of these disorders; while 1.5% used them for several
of these disorders. A 2.5% of drivers were using medicines to treat depression, 2.6%
to treat anxiety, and 3.7% to treat insomnia. The 8.3% of those drivers who were not
using any drugs to treat these three disorders were occasionally using some type of
tranquilizers. Benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
were the most used type of medicines among drivers. Benzodiazepines were the most
used medicines to treat anxiety, while SSRIs were the most used to treat depression,
56.5% and 43.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

Measures can be developed to reduce traffic accidents caused by the effects of these
drugs; however, this will only be possible once the drivers and the use of these drugs
are understood. Health care professionals and patients should be properly informed
about the potential effects of some psychotropic medications on driving abilities
considering individual and group differences.